Boston’s Businesses Offer Support After Tragedy

Boston’s Boylston Street may still be closed off after Monday’s horrific bombing attacks at the end of the world-famous marathon, but Sweet Cupcakes, just blocks away on Newbury Street, is open and wants to help the community begin to heal.

“We’re trying to make everyone’s day a little bit brighter. We’re keeping a strong face and welcoming everyone in,” says bakery manager Steph Telesco. Sweet Cupcakes will be offering complimentary cupcakes today at the location, which was close enough to the finish line that Telesco could hear the explosions.

“We saw the chaos outside and weren’t sure what it was,” Telesco says. “It’s definitely a strange feeling walking down the street today. It’s hard not to imagine what it looked like yesterday.”

Nearby DeLuca’s Market also opened its doors one day after the tragedy.

“The community needs groceries, and there’s no way to get to Trader Joe’s or Shaw’s because the street is blocked off,” says employee Svetlana Antonova.

Yesterday, Tavistock Restaurants CEO Bryan Lockwood released a statement that the group’s three restaurants, Atlantic Fish Co., Abe & Louie’s and Joe’s American Bar & Grill, had been closed due to the explosions. One blast hit two doors away from the Atlantic Fish Co. storefront on Boylston St.

An employee at the Tavistock office said she was unsure whether the restaurants would be reopened today.

#BostonHelp Trends on Twitter

A number of area businesses have been tweeting their support for the community and first responders.

The Johnny Cupcakes store located on Newbury Street tweeted that they would be open today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., adding, “We are a community and we are here to support each other.” Assistant manager John Benedict says the store closed early yesterday, about an hour or two after the explosions.

El Pelon Taqueria, which has a location in the Fenway neighborhood, made the news last night for tweeting it was opening its WiFi network and offering outlets to charge cells.

El Pelon also announced they would be serving food and drinks, tweeting, “Pay only if you can #bostonhelp.” The hashtag was trending last night on Twitter, as community members volunteered services and support to those affected by the bombing. An employee at El Pelon said the manager who arranged the restaurant’s efforts yesterday would be coming in this afternoon, after working all night.

And over on Boylston Street, Tasty Burger is offering free lunch and dinner Tuesday to first responders and all fireman, policemen, EMS and medical workers, says Chris Gotreau, the director of operations.